Highway-crossing signal



June 17, 1924. 1,498,157

v c. w. DUNHAM HIGHWAY CROSS ING SIGNAL Filed March 31. 1921 H l k INVENTOR.

BY Q KW W ATTORNEY.

Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITE CHARLES W. DUNHAM, FAIEMONT, PENNQYLVANXA. ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OE? SVVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HIGHWAY-CROQSING SIGNAL.

Application filed March 31, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, CHARLES V2 DUN- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairmont, in the county ot West-moreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Highway-Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to highwaycrossing signals, that is, to signals which are located at grade intersections of railways and highways and serve to indicate to those using the highway whether or not a train is approaching on the railway.

I will describe one form of signal em.- bodying my invention, and will thenpoint out the novel featuresthereof in claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is aview showing in front elevation one form of signal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly diagrammatic, showing one form of operating mechanism and one circuit arrangement which may be employed for the control of the warning devices of the signal shown in Fig. 1. 1

Referringfirst to Fig. 1, the signal comprisesa main warning device D in the form of a banner mounted to swing like a penduhim and carrying a lamp L, and an aux.

iliary warning device K which, as here shown, is an electric hell. These devices and the operating mechanism for the banner D are mounted on afpost 9 which is located at the intersection of a railway and a high way. The operating mechanism is housed in a box 8, which is located near the top of the post, the banner being supported by a tubular arm 14 which projects horizontally from the box 8. The bell K is mounted on top of the box 8.

The banner D is pivotally mounted at the point 10 in a hood 13 attached to the outer end of the arm 14.. The control of this banner is such that when no train is approaching the highway, the banner is latched in the position in which it is shown in the drawing, that is, in one extreme position,

of its stroke, and when in this position it is preferably obscured by two shields 17 attached to a brace rod 15, one on each side of the banner. When a train is approaching, however, the banner is caused to swing to and fro, that is, to oscillate about the- Serial No. 457,332.

pivotal point 10, thus'simulating the movement of a flag or lamp swung by a man.

Referring now to F ig. 2, the banner D is oscillated by a rod 16 which is pivotally attached to the banner at point 16 and which passes through the arm 14 of Fig. 1'

to the controlling mechanism in box 8. This controlling mechanism, in the form here shown, comprises a member A mounted to oscillate around an axis 21 and provided with an arm 21 which is pivotally connected with the operating rod 16. The .member A also has two arms 22 and 22, provided with armatures 25 and 25 respectively, which are acted upon by two magnets 28 and 23 respectively. The construction of these parts is such that if the magnets are energized alternately, the member Awill oscillate and so will cause the desired swinging movement of the banner D.

The latching apparatus for holding the banner in one extreme position comprises a latch arm 26 which is provided with an armature 28 arranged to be attracted by a bers 29 and 30 biased to. "mutual engagement. 1 For this purpose the arm is provided with a slot 26 through which passes the .pivot pin 27, so that the arm is capable of longitudinal as well as swinging movement.

The arm carries a knob 31 of insulating ma terial which is adapted to engage the contact member 30at times to open the circuit controller. The operation of this device is as follows: When the banner is latched by the engagement of latch arm 26 with arm 21, this arm is, of course, shifted to its extreme right-hand position, as shown in the drawing, so that circuit controller B is .open. When, however, the latch arm 26 is released by magnet F and swings in clockwise direction to release the arm 21, the latch arm is also shifted longitudinally to the left by the action of contact spring 30, so that circuit controller B becomes closed.

The operating magnets 23 and 23 are governed by circuit controller B, and also by a circuit controller C operated by the oscillating member A. The circuit controller C comprises a block 37 pivotally mounted at 37 and carrying a contact member 38 co-operating with two contact springs 39 and 39 The block 37 is arranged for engagement with knobs 52 and 52 on the arms 22 and 22 respectively, so that the block is shifted each time that member A is moved.

The circuit for operating magnet 28 is from a battery E, through wires32 and 313, circuit controller B, wire 34, magnet 23, wire 35, contact se -as of circuit controller C, and wires 36 and 4:9 to battery E. The circuit for magnet 23 is similar to the circuit just traced, except that it includes wire 40 and contact 3938 of circuit controller C.

The lamp L carried by the banner is provided with a circuit which passes from battery E through wires 32 and 33, circuit controller B, wires 34 and 51, lamp L, and wire 50 to battery E. This lamp, then, is extinguished when the banner is latched, and

illuminated when the banner is unlatched;

V 7 The latch magnetF is controlled in any suitable manner, such, for example as by a track relay R, the circuit being from battery E,through wires 32 and 41, winding of magnet F, wire 42, contact 43 of relay B, and wire 44 to battery E.

- Relay R is included in a track circuit comprising a track battery 50 and the rails of a section H of railway track.

' The operation of the operating mechanism thus far described is as follows:

\Vhile relay B is energized, that is, while there is no train on the track sectionI-I, magnet F is energized so that the banner D is held in its extreme left hand position wherein it is obscured by the shields 17,

and lamp L is extinguished. WVhen a train enters the track section, however, relay It opens, thereby opening the circuit for latch magnet 1*, which, in turn, releases the banner and allows circuit cont-roller B to close. Operating magnets 23 and 23 are then alternately energized to cause oscillation of the banner D in the usual and well known manner, and lamp L is illuminated. The banner then indi cates to persons using the highway that the railroad crossing is unsafe. When the train passes out of the controlling track section H, relay B.- becomes energized, thereby energizing magnet F, so that banner D again becomes latched in its extreme lefthand .position.

The bell K is provided with a circuit which passes from battery E through wires 32 and 33, circuit controller B, wires 34:

and 4, bell K, wires 46 and i9 to battery E. Inasmuch as the circuit for this bell includes circuit controller B, it will be seen that the bell will operate only when the banner D is unlatched. By virtue of this arrangement it is unnecessary to provide the track relay R with aback contact, that is, with a contact which is closed when the relay is deenergized. Another feature of this control of the bell K is that any irreg ularity in the performance of the banner D tending to cause it to swing when the track relay is closed, will likewise cause the bell K to ring.

Another feature of my invention is the factthat the circuit controller is included in the circuits for the operating magnets 23 and 23. By virtue of this control, power is not cut oil from the operating magnets until the banner is actually latched, should a heavy gust of wind prevent the banner from latching when it should latch, that is, when track relay R becomes closed, the swinging will continue until the latching is accomplished. Another advantageo'f controlling the magnets by circuit controller B is that it eliminates the necessity for controlling the operating magnets by the track relay R, and it furthermore insures that all power is cut off from the operating magnets when the signal is latched in the proceed position thus avoiding any possibility of drain on the battery E. 7

Although I have herein shown and described only one form'of signal embodying my invention, it is understo'o'd'that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: r V

1. A hlghway crossing signal compr sing a banner mounted to swing, operating mechamsm for causing sa1d banner to swing, latching apparatus for holding sa1d banner in an inclined position including 'a' member biased to one position and moved to another posltion by the we ght 'of the ban ner when latched, an auxiliary signaling'd'evice, and means for controlling said device by said movement of said member.

2. A highway crossing signal comprising a banner mounted to swing, operating mechanism for causing said banner to swing, latching apparatus for holding said banner in an inclined position including amember biased to one position and moved to another position by the weight of the banner when latched, a circuit controller operated by said member and arranged to "be circuit controller.

open when thebanner islatchedand closed 3. A highway crossing signal comprising a banner mounted to swing, operating mech anism for swinging said banner, latching apparatus for holding said banner in an inclined position including a member biased to one position and moved to another position by the weight .of the banner when latched, a circuit controller operated by said member and arranged to be open when the banner is latched and closed when the banner is not latched, an auxiliary signaling device, and means including said circuit controller for controlling said device and said operating mechanism.

4. A highway crossing signal comprising a banner mounted to swing, operating mechanism for causing said banner to swing, latching apparatus for holding said banner in an mclined position including a member biased to one position and moved to another position by the weight of the banner when latched, and means for controlling said operating mechanism by said member.

5. A highway crossing signal comprising a banner mounted to swing, operating mechanism for causing said banner to swing,

latching apparatus for holding said banner in an inclined position including a member biased to one position and moved to another position by the weight of the banner when latched, a circuit controller operated by said member and arranged to be open when the banner is latched and closed when the banner is not latched, and means including said circuit controller for controlling said operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' CHARLES W. DUNHAM. 

